Port Blair, Sept. 20: The Indian Coast Guard Ship Durgabai Deshmukh apprehended 14 Myanmarese poachers along with one boat  80 NM east of Port Blair after a night sea-air coordinated anti-poaching operation 19 Sep 12. The Coast Guard vigilant Dornier on surveillance sortie reported suspicious boat at 1430 hrs near invisible bank. On receipt of information, Coast Guard Ship Durgabai Deshmukh operating in area was immediately pressed into action.

To ensure positive tracking till interception, the Coast Guard Dornier was again launched at 1655 hrs on 19 Sep 12 to vector the boat. The Dornier aircraft located the suspected boat at around 1830 hrs after the sunset. On sighting the aircraft suspected boat frequently changed the course and speed and tried to escape. Despite limited visibility, the Coast Guard Dornier under the command of Asst Comdt Sunil Negi, continuously tracked the boat and vectored Coast Guard Ship Durgabai Deshmukh for interception.

Indian Coast Guard Ship and aircrafts in a perfect sea-air coordinated operation, which lasted for around three  and half hours, the Coast Guard Ship Durgabai Deshmukh under the command of Commandant Atul Joshi finally succeeded in the apprehension of 14 Myanmarese poachers along with boat at 2030 hrs on 19 Sep 12. The 18 mtrs Myanmarese wooden boat along with 14 poachers was brought to Port Blair  at 1430 hrs on 20  Sep 12 and handed over to Central Crime Station for legal formalities.